The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-07

w 0AO ohu Ondt wherever Cney are That
the interests of the denomination be
carefully held in mind.
Ministers may be visionary, imprac-
ticable, not devout, lazy. But that is
no reason why laymen should be disin-
terested, negligent, grumblers, over
nice, lacking spirituality, stingy.
without beating about the bush, the
great lack of our churches is a deep and
abiding spirituality. Spiritual things
are spiritually discerned. The religious
faculty is developed and strengthened
by spirituality. Spirituality in turn
leads to devotion, and practical appli-
cation of those laws of spiritual growth
that make a church strong in numbers,
in spreading the truth, and in doing all
the work of the Lord.
The lack of spiritual growth is an
efficient cause for weak church. That
alone will kill. The death knell has
sounded to any church that does not
seek spiritual life. 1t may have NOM
inal existence, but sometimes hardly
that. 1t relied upon the letter, and
the letter, like the poison of the Upas
tree, killeth. The spirit only makes
alive. While there is lack of spirit
ual growth and development in our
weak churches that is not the only
cause OF Inactivity, decay and death.
Resulting from this non-spiritual con-
dition of things, we have what our
church members are largely to blame
! for, namely: l. Too much ease in Zion.
Men and women are not aroused to
timely efforts, and ease begets long
list OF evil consequences, the worst of
which is an unsocial disposition, and
despotism might be added, engender-
ing animosities, and pickering and
back-b biting. Devoid of spirituality,
death is produced. But what burial
buried beneath the rubbish of hatred
and personal and impersonal con-
tention, and calumny. 1t is true that
kind of sociability may bring discon-
tent, and evil results. Familiarity
breeds contempt. But to be unsocial
produces the blasting frosts of morose-
ness, and the whitening heat of sullen
contempt, far worse than that of famil-
iarity.
The genial, social church, held to-
gether by the strongest ties of Christ
ian love and fellowship is never trou-
bled with impure blood; hence no moral
spiritual or physical atrophy. Its NOR
al tone is pure; its spiritual condition is
Respondent with power from above,
and in numbers it is constantly increas-
ing.
2 We have as result Of non-spirit-
uality a great lack Of personal regard
for what is demanded of church mem
bers. Membership in church is not
simply to have your name recorded in
a book. Obligations are taken which
must be held sacred. Conditions are
imposed which must be complied with,
and relationships formed which must
not be ignored.
The third ssssnnse of our profession of
faith is not mole-hill of words, to be
trodden under foot, neither is it rope
Of sand or straw-a thing to be easily
snapped asunder.
"We believe that holiness and true
happiness are inseparably connected,
and that believers ought to be careful
to maintain order, and practice good
works; for these things are good and
profitable unto men,"
There is great depth of spirituality
and experience underlying that state
ment, and the article must be under
stood as referring to the individual
member and as implying the fulflment
of every church obligation, the observ-
ance of every condition, and the recog-
milton of all the relationships existing
by virtue of membership. The Christ
ian is, or should be the light of the
world. This idea was recognized by
the founders Of our denomination,
when, in 1903, in convention they dis
cussed and adopted the Profession of
Faith
The Christian is the light of the world,
and the man or woman protesting the
Christian belief should let the light of
true holiness and happiness shine in
good works; for these things are good
and profitable, not only objectirely, but
Subisctirely. Good works are done when
the individual member guards himself
or herself against the inroads of evil,
and the subverting influence Of worldli-
ness.
We are the protesSed followers of Je-
sus, and believers in his gospel. Let
us possess the spirit of divine truth.
Let our lives be thoroughly imbued
with the holy spirit of grace, and then
our weak churches will become strong
and vivacious. Otherwise the rust that
gathereth will eat to the hearts core.
and mildew will spoil the o1ce pure
garments, and death and destruction
follow. Let us have the spirituality
that maketh alive that revealeth the
truth, and love. and mower and majesty